Euronews is no longer accessible on Internet Explorer. This browser is not updated by Microsoft and does not support the last technical evolutions. We encourage you to use another browser, such as Edge, Safari, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.

Copy/paste the article video embed link below:

The mid afternoon attack has naturally shocked New Yorkers who were preparing for the Halloween festivities.The use of a vehicle as a weapon is reminiscent of other suspected terror incidents carried out in Europe in the last 15 months.

Witnesses described what they saw:

“We saw the guy. We saw the car and it was surrounded by rubble. Yeah we saw the guy, he looked like he had on dark colors and he had a beard. But he was holding two guns. So it was a little scary,” said Josie Lis.

“Say something along the lines of he has a gun, he has a gun. So at that point I turned around, but maybe 30 seconds later I hear somewhere between five and 10 gunshots one after another,” added John Williams.

Tuesday’s assault took place only a few blocks away from ground zero, the site cite of the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

Walter Wickiser took a wider view:
“I don’t know, we’ve been through 9/11. But, now this truck thing and the cars, using cars against people. I mean I walk up that road every day, you know, to go to wherever. I mean you just have to be very, very careful and vigilant all the time.”

The authorities have warned residents to expect a stronger police presence on the streets as the investigation into the attack continues.

The 44th Annual Village Halloween Parade went on as scheduled in show of solidarity with victims of the earlier New York City terror attack pic.twitter.com/z1RnSbsp57